I’m not a fan of Black Friday.
In theory, it’s awesome — who doesn’t like a day of sales?
But I loathe the symbolism behind it — following a day of being grateful for what you have by stampeding strangers to get a bunch of stuff you don’t actually need.
I’m more into Cyber Monday, as a rule. But I believe that your best deals can be found by being vigilant. By calmly waiting — much like a police stake out — and making your capture at the right time. Sales come and go, and some happen when least expected. But many are happening right now.
Free Shipping Day, which is tomorrow, is largely for the so-called procrastinators. But it’s also for those of us to like to shop a little along the way and pounce when...

I will be the first to tell you that Black Friday is shopping amateur hour (much like New Years Eve is for those who drink).
That said, if you know what you are doing, you can rock this day and score all the best deals – leaving those neophytes in the cold. For instance, Old Navy is blowing Black Friday out of the water with GOBBLEPALOOZA – a 3D shopping experience.
A lot of their sales are already being previewed, and there’s a coupon to use too! Start off on Thursday, November 24th with $5 fleece accessories, $20 Frost Free jackets for kids, $29 Frost Free jackets for the adults, jeans and sweaters from $15, plus a printable coupon good for $10 off an in-store purchase of $50 or more.
And that’s before Black Friday even BEGINS. By...

Every morning, I scour my various daily deals emails — and I’ve found some amazing deals on things I didn’t even know I wanted (and probably didn’t need).
But is the bubble about to burst? Forrester Research recently released a report, U.S. Interactive Marketing Forecast, 2011 to 2016, that predicts the end of the daily deal craze. The report says growth in spending by businesses in other categories will “kill off” the daily deals category.
I don’t know much about finance (a look at my bank account would prove that) – but isn’t a recession such as ours the best time for such deals to prosper? I don’t understand!
Forrester Research analyst Shar VanBoskirk says in the report, “Consumers will grow so...

I’m a little behind on my news this week — I was in Mexico this weekend and just came back late last night, but apparently I missed some awesomeness: USA Today reports that American Express and Facebook have partnered for a Facebook app that will offer Facebook users deals and special offers based on their interests and likes. USA Today says 100 companies have already signed on to offer deals through the new American Express app.
Bloomberg reports that the American Express “Link, Like, Love” will enable American Express to mine people’s Facebook relationships, interests and “likes.”
People do like deals, but some Facebook users may not want their Facebook data “mined” by American Express. Information about...